Radisson - 2010 / Ivy & Princess

[birdnut]

Was on Carlton again on Friday night - no falcons, but a flock of 8 or 9 pelicans flying in circles.  First they were low enough so I could tell what they were, but then they soared higher and higher until they were just black dots against the blue, blue sky. Watched them for about 10 minutes and then they disappeared.

Was back on Carlton 4:00ish on Sunday afternoon.  I hear squawking coming from behind the Carlton Inn, but I did not see the falcons.  Then about 10 minutes later, 4 birds came flying from the Radisson to the Hydro building.
I missed seeing the first falcon; the middle two were definitely young ones, the 4th bird, an adult.  One of young ones thought he/she would try to land on the south side of the building(almost all glass), gave it 2 tries and then gave up and flew on to join the other 3 again.  I hear more squawking later, but did not see them again.  The speed of them flying in between the buildings downtown just amazes me.

[Mother Hen]

Saw pictures of one of the peregrines taken thru the window of the Peregrine Room at the Raddison Hotel. Appears to be Ivy!

[Mother Hen]

You guys are sure lucky to see all the action.......And boy they can fly high Real high.

[Kinderchick]

I saw the parents circle high last year when I was on fledge watch - I suspect they do it because they can. And in the wild, given their eyesight, it would be a great vantage point to watch for prey, I would think.

And didn't TPC say that they can even see the West Winnipeg peregrines with their excellent eyesight?

[sami]

I saw the parents circle high last year when I was on fledge watch - I suspect they do it because they can. And in the wild, given their eyesight, it would be a great vantage point to watch for prey, I would think.

[Cooper]

Thanks for that report Cooper!  Sounds like it was really exciting!   

Oh it was awesome! But I am wondering why they would go so high. The clouds they rose into were cirrus clouds not low laying clouds. I mean they were really high. I thought at first that I'd get to witness some "diving lessons" but they kept on going up (with the thermals I assume because it was really lazy circling). Was it because it would be cooler up there or is it just what a bird does on a lazy Saturday afternoon because it can? 

[Kinderchick]

...Imagine that swooping past your kitchen window!

[irenekl]

To answer your question Kinderchick....yes the heron takes the fish.  It's a two-tiered backyard pond with a bit of a waterfall.  So larger than most backyard ponds but nonetheless....there he/she is in their backyard.  Imagine that swooping past your kitchen window!

[allikat]

Thanks for that report Cooper!  Sounds like it was really exciting!   

[msdolittle]

We went for a nice bike ride today.  Coming down Lyndale Dr all of a sudden we heard the familar cack cack cacking and stopped the bikes .. looked up and there were 2 falcons playing touch, and a third flying about just over a bit to the right.

[bccs]

Fantastic report Cooper, so glad you saw this.

[Kinderchick]

Excellent, Cooper! Lucky you!

[Cooper]

There's at least 4, maybe the whole family, cavorting downtown between the Rogers and Hydro buildings this afternoon. At first I thought I wasn't going to see anyone - no one in their usual spots on letters and whatnot - but then I saw one come in for landing on the roof below the Hydro sign. I watched as he or she went a running down the roof to the northeast corner where he sat.

Meanwhile I spied someone, a juvie I think, try to land on one of the apparatus on the Rogers building but couldn't quite "stick" the landing, so circled around. When along came a parent (I think) gliding effortlessly behind juvie. When they both got to the front Portage side of the building, there arose such a kacking that I assume there were more birds there. Of course they could have been kacking at each other too.

Anyway gliding parent was now in front as they circled back toward me and circling up. Juvie was a flapping and coasting to keep up. Up, up, up they went, circling higher and higher. I could hear them talking to each other now and then and I watched as they circled ever higher and higher. Then I noticed that they were joining someone else up there. So I watched as now three birds continued circling higher and higher until I could tell they were in the clouds. They were just three small dots now and eventually I lost them up there. I watched for a while longer hoping I'd see them come down again but no such luck and I had a crick in my neck by then. Truly amazing though!   

[Kinderchick]

A blue heron makes regular stops at a fish pond in my friends backyard in North Kildonan.  First sited this last summer and has been there as recently as last week.  They have witnessed it take fish and simply just stand around til it decides to fly off. 

A blue heron in a backyard! Awesome, irenekl! But does he take their "pet" fish?  That wouldn't be too thrilling for them. Or maybe it's a neighbourhood pond you're speaking of.

[irenekl]

A blue heron makes regular stops at a fish pond in my friends backyard in North Kildonan.  First sited this last summer and has been there as recently as last week.  They have witnessed it take fish and simply just stand around til it decides to fly off.